Rory McIlroy retains Dubai Invitational lead despite eighth hole meltdown

Rory McIlroy retained the lead at the end of the second day of the Dubai Invitational, despite one remarkable aberration on Friday.

The Northern Irishman’s game has been in fine working order on his first outing of the season on the DP World Tour.

He has been in chipper mood, trading high fives with his playing partners, and has generally cut a relaxed figure in the confines of the pro-am format.

Even when the wheels came off in dramatic fashion. Across 35 of the 36 holes he has played so far at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, he has shot 14 birdies.

His standards dropped on just one hole – and that cost him a quadruple-bogey four at the par-3 eighth. He was short, left, and in the water with his tee shot.

At least his shot from the drop zone made it as far as the green, only for that, too, to dribble back and flop into the water. He ended up signing for a seven.

Normal service was quickly restored. He birdied the 10th, added two more before the close, and ended the day with a two-shot lead ahead of Jeff Winther, at 10-under par.

.@McIlroyRory opens up a two-shot lead